Types of Dam Gates | Hydro Construction

Types of Dam Gates

Dam repair and construction are deeply rooted in Gracon&#;s history and future. We understand that dam construction is complex as all dams are unique in structure. Yes, their purpose is to control water movement, but a big aspect contributing to their differences is what type of dam gates they&#;re built with.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website IWHR.

Dams serve several critical purposes for modern society. This includes access to drinking water, irrigation, flood control, hydropower generation, and even recreation. Gracon&#;s dam construction contractors specialize in rehabilitation and replacement services for dam mechanical equipment of all sizes. We are a team of multi-disciplined general contractors delivering top-tier construction services in hydroelectric facilities and dam rehabilitation.

Different Types of Dam Gates

The gate is the most important feature of the dam, and they operate in unique ways using various opening and closing mechanisms. Here are some of the different types of dam gates we specialize in:

High-Pressure Slide Gates

These types of dam gates have been used for many years to control flow through the outlet works of dams and are considered one of the more basic styles of water control gates. These types of water levels in rivers and canals by using wood or metal barrier sliding to provide a vertical water barrier.

An example of one of our projects specializing in High-Pressure Slide Gates includes the Lemon Dam Gate modification. The project included the installation of a steel intake bulkhead gate at the bottom of the reservoir. This installation required a barge-mounted crane and our team used pumps to maintain water flow above the dam.

Radial Gates

Radial Gates are used for the diversion of water for irrigation and they are placed on top of dams to increase reservoir capacity. Radial gates regulate water outflow by rolling up entirely, they are used in spillways or in water canals to maintain water levels.

The pressure transfers from the gate&#;s curved face through the horizontal support beams and then to the curved radial arms allowing for better resistance to water pressure. Vertical columns at either side of the fate opening act as arms allowing for a lightweight and straightforward gate that can be closed or opened with minimal effort.

Crest Gates

Crest gates are bottom-hinged flap gates used to control water levels where it is needed. The compact design of this gate type consists of a straight or curved retaining surface, which is built on a fixed axis.

Usually, crest gates are hydraulically operated to open gates during flooding events or power outages. This spillway style is opened and closed by rotating its hinges and is an excellent option for waterways that need to pass ice or other floating materials downstream.

Drum Gates

Drum Gates are hollow structures that float on water and are pinned to rotate up or down. They are hinged and located at the top of dams and consist of a horizontal cylinder that is raised from its slot to increase the flow of the spillway.

Drum gates allow for the ability to control reservoir levels to precise levels, and without the assistance of mechanical power.

Miter Gates

Miter gates, also known as &#;Lock gates&#; or a &#;Canal lock&#; are composed of two &#;leaves&#; that provide closure at one end of a lock, formed at an angle pointing upstream. They are used to block entrances and exits of locks that allow water passage in a water system.

Invented by the infamous Leonardo Da Vinci, these types of gates allow water levels within a lock to go up or down and are still in use today at many canals or waterways globally.

Expertise and Safety

Gracon has replaced and repaired more than 100 gates, ensuring our team is one of the most knowledgeable and trusted in the country. Our extensive list of successful projects includes the Dillon Dam Gate Repairs, Strontia Springs Dam ERDS Rehabilitation, and the Gene Wash Valve Replacement.

More details about each project can be viewed here along with our other successful operations.

Gracon has a lengthy track record of safe performance, we understand how powerful dam structures are and they require strict safety guidelines during construction. At Gracon, we go by the Zero Harm Core Value, which emphasizes worker and public safety, craftsmanship, integrity, discipline, and sustainability.

For more information, please visit hydraulic gate.

Diverse Solutions

We offer a diverse range of solutions showcased in four divisions. Hydropower, Dams, Piping, and Electrical. When working with Gracon, you can depend on us to deliver on and execute some of the nation&#;s most challenging construction projects.

Don&#;t hesitate to contact our team for quality work and personalized service.

Kanadevia has a history of more than 100 years as a manufacturer of floodgates and steel pipes. We deliver a large number of gates (including high-pressure gates for dams and large river gates), penstocks, and steel pipes for installation in dams and rivers. Based on this safe and reliable construction of water gate facilities, we continue to ceaselessly develop new technology such as large flap gates for tsunami and disaster prevention, efficient management methods for existing equipment, and functional enhancement and efficient utilization through renewal (redevelopment) of existing dams and hydraulic iron pipes. Through these developments, Kanadevia aims to contribute to the further sophistication of equipment and safe land construction.

Major products

Gates for dams and rivers

This facility controls the huge amount of water and huge water pressure stored in the dammed lake. In addition to flood control, which is the main purpose of the dam, there are numerous facilities for various types of water control. Examples include flow rate adjustment for constant river flow rate, selective water intake equipment for intake of water at an appropriate temperature, and measures against turbid water in the dammed lake.

Tokuyama dam emergency flood discharge (crest radial gate)

13.4 meters wide × 10.1 meters high (4 gates)

Main spillway in redevelopment project for Amagase Dam

• Main gate (radial gate)
  • 3.6 meters wide × 4.9 meters high × 9.0 meters radius
  • 2 gates
• Branch pipes
  • Inlet 10.3 meters in diameter (1 line)/outlet 3.6 meters wide × 5.0 meters high (2 lines)
• Total length
  • 43 meters

River gate

This gate controls river water, such as estuary weirs that maintain the water level at normal times and then allow river water to flow down quickly in the event of a flood, and gutters and floodgates that intake and discharge of water from the river. There are also various other facilities such as locks that allow ships to come and go upstream and downstream of the estuary weir, fishway gates that assist fish in swimming upstream, and retarding basin locks that store river water in the event of a flood.

• Nagashima water gate (horizontal roller gate)
  • 14.0 meter wide × 14.6 meters high (2 gates)

• Dotonbori river water gate
  • Left: Water control gate (2-stage roller gate)
    12.5 meters wide × 6.8 meters high (1 gate)
  • Right: Downstream lock (submerge radial gate)
    9.0 meters wide × 7.1 meter radius (1 gate)

Penstock

A penstock transports water from a reservoir, etc., in a high location to a hydroelectric power plant in a low location. Since the water must drop all at once in order to generate power, the interior of the penstock is exposed to high pressure. Therefore, by connecting long distances along steep slopes, a penstock fulfills an important role for hydroelectric power generation.

• Ojiya power station, No. 3 penstock
  • Design water head of 74 meters
  • Extension of 78 meters
  • Inner diameter 3,350 to 4,500 millimeters

• The penstock of Higashiyokoyama hydropower station
  • Design water head of 119 meters
  • Extension of 62 meters × 4 pipes
  • Inner diameter of 1,200 to 1,500 millimeters

Temporary closing facility for dam renewal construction

Dam renewal work is performed while the dam is operating at a high water level. Therefore, a temporary steel lid known as a "temporary closing facility" is installed on the upstream surface of the dam body to prevent the dammed lake water from flowing out to the downstream side when drilling holes in the dam body. Kanadevia is experienced in constructing a large number of temporary closing facilities. Based on that know-how, we have developed a floating temporary closing method.

• *

  The floating temporary closing method is a joint patent of the Kyushu Regional Development Bureau, the Japan Dam Engineering Center, Kajima Corporation, and Kanadevia.

• Tsuruta dam upstream temporary closing facility
  • For additional spillway facilities: Inner area 11.0 meters wide × 4.0 meters deep × 38.0 meters high
  • For power generation and water intake: Inner area 13.0 meters wide × 3.7 meters deep × 30.5 meters high
  • Floating temporary closing: Inner area 11.0 meters wide × 4.0 meters deep × 25.5 meters high

Shinemon: Hydraulic Gate Operating Status Management/Diagnostic System

Control panel of Shinemon/Control panel of the Nakagawa Sluice (roller gate)

Data during normal operation is automatically collected and statistically processed by software to provide a highly-reliable deterioration index. The system can also be used to investigate the cause of problems.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit dam construction companies.

• Collected data
  • Current value, facilities voltage, aperture, rope loosening time,rope tension
• Deterioration index
  • Starting current, operating current, number of operations, operating time, start-up time, number of rope bends, rope tension, mechanical efficiency, pulley efficiency